Reformed Theology: 15. Jesus as Prophet, Priest, and King

Welcome back to the Basics of the Reform Faith Series. Today's topic is Jesus as Prophet, Priest, and King. The diagnosis is not very good. We are ignorant, guilty, and corrupt. But the prognosis is far worse.

The Curse of Sin: Ignorance, Guilt, and Corruption

We are under the curse and face certain death. As fallen sinners ravaged by a three-fold consequence of our sins, our hearts are darkened, as per Romans 1 .21, and our thoughts are continually evil, Genesis 6 .5.

Our minds are clouded by sin and ignorant of the things of God, Ephesians 4 .17 -18. We labor under the tremendous weight of our guilt, the penalty for our many infractions of the law of God. We may delude ourselves into thinking that we have sinned against our neighbors only, but David knew that this was not true.

Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, Psalm 51 .4. But we also suffer from the destruction and pollution of our inherited sinful condition, which infects every part of us from the moment of conception.

Born in sin, as the psalmist declares in Psalm 51 .5, there is no good residing in us, Psalm 14 .1 -3. Our bodies, which are fearfully and wonderfully made, Psalm 139 .14, become instruments to act out the wickedness that would otherwise lie hidden in our hearts, Romans 6 .13.

The bad news is very bad. Sin leaves us ignorant, guilty, and polluted, and therefore miserable. But there is a glorious and miraculous cure from this disease. The good news of the gospel is that while this is impossible with men, nevertheless with God all things are possible, Matthew 19 .26.

The Threefold Office of Christ

It was John Calvin who brought the so-called threefold office of Christ into prominence. Utilized by many in the subsequent Reformed tradition, the threefold office presents Jesus Christ as prophet, priest, and king, who in his saving work fulfilled all the anointed offices of the Old Testament.

As Calvin pointed out, the threefold office of Christ is one of the best ways to explain our Lord's redemptive work, which by design overcame our ignorance, our guilt, and our corruption, and which even now provides us with illumination, redemption, and hope in the present.

Christ's Prophetic Office

We start with Jesus' prophetic office, in which he represents God to humanity. Jesus is the light of the world, John 1 .4 -5, who comes to show us God the Father, John 14 .9. It was Moses who foretold of a great prophet that, The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your brothers.

It is to him you shall listen, Deuteronomy 18 .15. And it is Peter who immediately after the birth of the church applies this passage to our Lord in Acts 3 .22 -23. Jesus speaks of himself as such a prophet in Luke 13 .33, and our Lord expressly claims to speak only what the Father has told him to say in John 12, 14, 15, and 17.

Jesus speaks of the future in Matthew 24 .3 -35 and speaks with amazing authority unlike all others. Indeed our Lord's words are backed by the power of God, for his mighty works serve to confirm the truth of his message.

Matthew 21 .11, Luke 7 .16, 24 .19, John 3 .2, 4 .19, 7 .40, and 9 .17. In John 6 .14 we are told that when the people saw the sign that he had done, they said, This is indeed the prophet who has come into the world.

Christ's Priestly Office

Next, the priestly office of Christ occupies a major place in the New Testament, and includes not only a discussion of the office itself, but also of Christ's sacrificial death to redeem sinners from their sin.

The key passage in the New Testament, Hebrews 5 .1 and following, lays out the characteristics of a true priest. First, for every high priest chosen from among men is appointed to act on behalf of men in relation to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins.

Second, such a priest is appointed by God in verse 4. Third, the high priest offers gifts and sacrifices for sins. In addition, the priest makes intercession for the people, Hebrews 7 .25, blessing them in the name of God, Luke 9 .22.

Clearly, Jesus is the high priest par excellence. Although he is the only New Testament writer who applies the term to Jesus, the author of Hebrews repeatedly speaks of Jesus as a priest. Finally, as for the kingly office of Christ, the scriptures declare that the Lord has established his throne in heaven and his kingdom rules over it, Psalm 103 .19.

Unlike those who argue that Christ delays the full manifestation of his rule in this present age until a millennial kingdom age yet to come, Jesus presently exercises full dominion over all things. Jesus is king of kings, and his kingdom is a kingdom both of grace and power.

In fact, Hebrews 10 .12 -13, it tells us,. But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, waiting from that time until his enemy should be made a footstool for his feet.

Jesus is right now taking dominion over all the earth through his church. Christ ascended to the right hand of his Father, and even now rules over all creation as sovereign Lord, the civil kingdom, and over his church as covenant mediator, Christ's kingdom.

The New Testament repeatedly speaks of Christ as head of the church, in Ephesians 1 .22, 4 .15, 5 .23, and Colossians 1 .18 -2 .19. Christ's rule over his church is closely related to the mystical union formed between Christ and the church, which the scriptures describe as his body.

1 Corinthians 12 .27. Christ's kingdom is a spiritual kingdom, so it has no flag, no world headquarters, and no catchy logo. But it is present wherever Christ's people gather to hear God's word proclaimed and to receive the sacraments.

Romans 14 .17. This kingdom is identical to that which the New Testament repeatedly calls the kingdom of God. This kingdom is a conquering kingdom. Matthew 12 .28. But it is not to be confused with the cultural, economic, or political institutions.

John 18 .36. The wicked will not inherit this kingdom. Galatians 5 .21. However, all believers who have identified with Jesus through faith, and outwardly through baptism, will. It is a glorious kingdom.

1 Thessalonians 2 .12. And despite what some might say, it is a present reality. Matthew 3 .2. It is a kingdom which, as the creed declares, has no end. 2 Peter 1 .11. In his threefold office as prophet, priest, and king, Jesus cures our ignorance, he removes our guilt, and he delivers us from our corruption.

The Covenant of Grace and Christ's Mediatorial Work

It is here that we will find some of the specifics of what it means for Jesus to be the only mediator of the covenant of grace. Let's review. All humanity suffers, body and soul, from the destructive pollution of our inherited sinful condition.

There is a glorious and miraculous cure from this disease through one who is a prophet, priest, and king. In his prophetic office, Jesus represents God to humanity. In his priestly office, Jesus' sacrificial death redeems sinners from their sin.

In his kingly office, Jesus is seated at the right hand of the Father, ruling and reigning, exercising full dominion over all things now. He is king of kings right now. Christ's kingdom is a spiritual kingdom, and present wherever his body gathers.

In his threefold office as prophet, priest, and king, Jesus cures our ignorance, he removes our guilt, and he delivers us from our corruption. Thanks again for joining us. I look forward to seeing you in the next lesson.